Safety dome cover for tank cars



May 15, 1934. s,y BOYL'AN 1,958,693

SAFETY DOME COVER FOR TANK CARS Filed Jian. 26, 1931 INVENTOR. Jase/ 5. foy/af? A TTORN E Y.l

Patented May 15, 1934 NHTED STATES PATENT FFICE SAFETY DOME COVER FOR TANK CARS Application January 26,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a safety dome cover for tank cars, and refers more particularly to a portable cover which is adaptable for use during the filling of tank cars to reduce fire hazard.

The salient feature of the invention lies in the restriction of the opening during the lling operation, and the screening of the Vent to prevent possible ignition of the gas or oil in the tank. Preferably the metals used in the safety cover are selected for their non-sparking character.

Fig. l is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, on the top flange 1 of the dome is affixed by screws or bolts 2 a plate 3 which preferably has a gasketed connection with the flange of the dome. Welded or otherwise fastened into this plate is a tube or pipe of any desired diameter. Normally an internally threaded pipe 4 is used. Into this is screwed during the filling operation the line from the storage tank or other source of oil. The ll pipe connection 4 is normally a 4" pipe having standard threads. In the main cover 3 is a vent hole 5 normally not exceeding six inches in diameter. Near the circumference of this is a pivot bolt 6. Pivoted on the bolt 6 is a ash proof vent cover 7 which consists of a brass bottom ring "la, a center ring or steel screen separator 7b, and a top ring of mild steel designated as 7c. Between the bottom ring and center ring is a wire screen 8 and between the center ring and top ring is a second screen 9. These screens are preferably of woven wire, removable for replacement and repair, and have approximately mesh to the square inch. Between the screens there is substantially a one eighth inch air space. On one side of the top ring and adjacent the pivot is an arm 10, at the extremity 40 of which is an eye into which is hooked the spring 11. The opposite end of the spring is hooked over an eye bolt 12. By this arrangement there is a slight tension kept upon the spring 11 and arm 10, tending to maintain the vent cover in a closed position against the stop 13 such as that shown in Fig. l. The stop 13 is positioned at the edge of the main cover plate in the path of the vent cover to limit its movement. In place of the vent cover sliding horizontally across the top of the main cover, the vent cover may be optionally hinged so that it may be raised vertically in place of sliding horizontally to expose the vent openlng.

During the filling operation or at times when there is any danger of re, the vent cover is moved 1931, Serial No. 511,130

to a position where it entirely covers the vent opening and, due to the screen over the vent cover, lire will not pass and the gas given off from the oil during the filling operation cannot be ignited below the surface of the screen.

The device is portable and readily moved from 011e tank car to another during the loading operation. The vent opening, besides furnishing a discharge for the gases and air from the tank, also furnishes readily accessible means for determining the amount of oil in the tank car.

While but one method of accomplishing the result has been shown, it is appreciated that the details of the hinging of the Vent cover can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also any suitable type of screening may be used over the Vent aperture.

As an additional precaution and to reduce the release of volatile material and minimize loss in iilling, a hose connection 14 may be connected to the safety plate which shall be of sufficient length to reach substantially to the bottom of the tank car. As the level of the liquid rises, the end of the hose is almost immediately immersed and the surface exposed to evaporation reduced to a minimum.

I claim as my invention:

1. A removable cover for atank car manhole having a cover plate, a lling opening in said plate, a vent opening in said plate, a pivoted vent screen normally covering said vent opening, a frame surrounding said screen, a lever secured to said frame, a spring, means for securing one end of said spring to said cover plate, means for securing the other end of said spring to said lever in tensioned condition whereby a force is exerted tending to move said vent screen to vent covering position, and a stop for insuring the proper positioning of the vent screen when in closed position. 95

2. A cover for a tank car manhole including in combination a removable cover plate having a filling opening, a separate gauging and venting opening provided therein, a closure for said gauging and venting opening, said closure being pro- 300 vided with readily operable mechanical means whereby the same may be readily moved to and from closing position to enable the opening to be used for gauging, said closure being equipped with perforated vent means.

JOSEPH S. BOYLAN. 

